Coldred: Norman History and Walking Routes

Coldred offers a varied cultural and historical focus: St Pancras Church, the Norman monument of Coldred Court and traces of Guilford Colliery give a trip a range of different dimensions. Added to this is its connection to walking routes along the North Downs Way and the Via Francigena. Those choosing Coldred for a stay can explore church and defensive architecture, industrial history and a longer hike.

Norman earthworks at Coldred Court

The Coldred Court monument comprises an early Norman ringwork and bailey. The ringwork includes a bank up to 2.5 metres high; the outer ditch is up to 2 metres deep. These measurements give a clear impression of the earthworks that formed the fortification. In each case, “up to” indicates a maximum. The monument is also historically associated with Odo, Bishop of Bayeux and Earl of Kent. Coldred Court can therefore be understood both through its physical form and through this historical connection.

St Pancras Church and local history

St Pancras Church is a parish church and is listed as a Grade I building. It was probably built in the late 11th century, shortly after the motte-and-bailey castle that surrounds it. This cautious dating is part of the account: no exact year of construction is given. The church and the fortification offer different perspectives on Coldred’s history, but according to this assessment they are also connected chronologically. Those interested in religious architecture can consider the church in relation to the Norman castle.

Traces of Guilford Colliery

Industrial history also has tangible remains. At Guilford Colliery, a brick-built engine house survives. A short section of the cutting from the branch railway to the colliery also remains near Coldred Court Farm. The two relics point to different aspects of industrial history: a building and a railway line. The access restriction is important for planning your trip: Guilford Colliery may be on private land. Do not enter the site without permission.

Walking the North Downs Way and the Via Francigena

The walk along the North Downs Way from Shepherdswell to Dover is 9 miles long. The waymarked routes of the North Downs Way and the Via Francigena lead to Coldred Court Farm. The longer walking route passes through the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; St Pancras Church is in Coldred. The route can therefore be considered in terms of both its length and the places and landscapes mentioned. The Via Francigena itself is a historic pilgrimage route of more than 1,200 miles from Canterbury to Rome. Two different scales are compared here: a specific walk between Shepherdswell and Dover and an extensive pilgrimage route between Canterbury and Rome. Before setting out, check the waymarks and the condition of the paths, as signs and path conditions can change.

Discover more destinations: Bridge, Lamberhurst, Horsmonden, Waldershare, Paddock Wood, Chestfield, Edenbridge, Boughton Aulph

For the main travel overview: Kent.